Approve $6,000 Payment to Hillsborough Chapter of the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health for Services Associated with Their Partnership in Hillsborough County Public Schools Federal Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems Grant, PR Award #Q215M070028 (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)

The United States Department of Education (USDOE) awarded $322,756 to Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) for the District’s Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems grant project. Of this total amount, $6,000 is for project services rendered by the Hillsborough Chapter of the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health. The purpose of the project is to enhance the current collaborative efforts between existing school-based systems and mental health systems to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services to students. The Hillsborough Chapter of the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health will provide stipends and expenses necessary for family involvement in all project activities to insure project input from families of students who are eligible or receiving mental health services. The project began July 1, 2007, and ends January 31, 2009.

Goal 5 - The District will eliminate the FCAT achievement gap by a minimum of 10 percentage points as reported by No Child Left Behind.

Funding for this project is provided by USDOE Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems Grant award (#Q215M070028). HCPS is the grant’s fiscal agent and project funds reside with the district.

Under the terms of the grant Dr. Oliver Massey, Florida Mental Health Institute (FMHI), USF will perform the project evaluation. A copy of the final evaluation report will be provided to the district office of Assessment and Accountability. The anticipated date for the final evaluation is April 30, 2009.